A new chapter for environmental restoration and cultural revitalization began on May 23, 2026, with the official opening of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm t́ák̓ʷ salmon hatchery. Located within the skʷƛ̓əma:ɬ x̌acaʔ (Coquitlam Lake) Watershed, the facility, whose name translates to "Red Fish up the River Return Home," is a joint initiative involving the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation, BC Hydro, Metro Vancouver, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

The hatchery's primary goal is to restore the sockeye salmon population, which has been severely impacted since the construction of the Coquitlam Dam in 1913. Funded and built as part of BC Hydro's Coquitlam Tunnel Gates project, the facility boasts the capacity to produce up to 25,000 smolts annually over the next decade. Since its initial operations last year, the hatchery has already seen success with the release of 9,000 Coho salmon fry and the return of five adult sockeye spawners.

Beyond its environmental objectives, the project is also fostering significant community benefits for the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation, providing both employment opportunities and valuable technical training. The opening ceremony included a special blessing to honor Indigenous artists Mike Stanley, Ashlee White, Kristinia Joe, and Rosalie Dipcsu, who contributed cultural recognition elements and designed a new logo for the facility. Charlotte Mitha, President and CEO of BC Hydro, highlighted the partnership as a "visible reflection of collaboration, shared responsibility, and respect," emphasizing its role in the broader context of reconciliation with the Nation.